All about beers in Vietnam

In Vietnam, beer is everyone's favourite drink to cool down and refresh after a long day. In fact, most of Vietnam's nightlife is based on beer. This makes Vietnamese beer inexpensive and rich in variety.

1. Draft Beer

Draft Beer or Bia Hoi is the most common kind of beer you will find in Vietnam. Bia Hoi is brewed in 7 - 10 days and hence has a shorter shelf life. It is pasteurized and has a lower ABV and sugar content than other beers. During the fermentation process, no preservatives are used. After fermentation, the beer is extracted into kegs and sterilized with compressed air and warm water, sodium hydroxide and hot steam. It is then cooled down with carbon dioxide gas. This is the kind of beer you will see on sidewalks throughout Vietnam. Bia Hoi is cheap (VND 10,000 per mug) and is a local delicacy you cannot afford to miss. 

2. Craft Beer

Craft Beer is brewed with a lot of skill and care and is often very expensive. Some popular Vietnamese Craft Beer producers include Platinum, Pasteur Street Brewing, east West Brewing, Winking Seal and Heart of Darkness. Craft Beer is brewed from all sorts of substances such as cocoa beans, local fruits, coffee beans, passion fruit and durian. The brewing process is highly complicated and sophisticated as a result of which craft beer is often very expensive, starting from VND 100,000.

Vietnam has a number of beers that you must not miss. These beers include:

3. 333 

This beer was first produced in 1893 and initially known as Beer 33. Later, another digit was added to it. It is most commonly available in the south.

4. Bia Hanoi 

It is the most popular beer in Vietnam. This beer is brewed and served fresh and has a nice and crisp taste. It is found easily in Hanoi and the northern region in general but not as much in the south. It is estimated that around 3 - 4 litres of Bia Hanoi are sold in Hanoi every day.

5. Saigon Beer

These are relatively lighter beers produced in the south but are found all over Vietnam. The beer has about 4.7% alcohol and has a very distinctive Asian Rice flavour.

6. Huda 

This beer's name is derived from Hue (Hu) and Denmark (Da). This beer is confined to Central Vietnam and rarely found outside.

7. Heineken

This foreign beer brand is vastly popular amongst the foreigners and expats in Vietnam.

8. Tiger 

This beer is brewed by the Asia Pacific Breweries and is considered a premium brand everywhere else in Asia but is the cheapest international beer you can buy in Vietnam.

See more: 8 beverages you should try when visiting China

Source: holidify

Phongsaly, the hidden gem in Laos

Wake up at a house on the mountain, watch the sunrise, enjoy trekking and admire the beauty of sunset behind the mountain chains, you can find all of these alluring views in Phongsaly, Laos. Phongsaly is the highest city in Laos, it may be not as significant as others, but it will satisfy you like nature heals every soul.

Phongsaly is located in the North of Laos, which shares with Yunnan (China) and Dien Bien (Vietnam). Phongsaly province lies at a high altitude so that its climate is always pleasant and fresh compared to the common weather of Laos. The population is made up of 28 ethnic groups and the most common groups are Khmu, Phounoy, different Akha, Tai Lue and Hor with their own culture, traditions, costumes, and languages. The large forests are home of abundant flora and fauna, and many undiscovered species new to science. Generally, Phongsaly’s topography mainly is mountain and less delta or the midland, besides, it has not affected by urbanization and tourism, which makes Phongsaly remain its pristine beauty. Come and enjoy the green nature and the slow pace of living peacefully and gently.

✦ Highlights in Phongsaly

Harvesting tea leaves

The city is famous for its high quality green tea and the ancient tea plantation. Therefore, picking tea leaves is an interesting experience visitors must try in Phongsaly. Besides, they are able to take part in the complex tea making process including harvesting, drying, roasting, stirring by hand, etc. with teamakers in the villages. According to several tea experts, there are some of the oldest tea trees in the world at the 400 year old plantation in Phongsaly. That the large root system of the old trees is deep into the mineral-rich soil makes the "Phongsaly tea" a distinctive smell and taste.

Having a trekking trip

Going trekking in Phongsaly helps you discover special, hidden parts of the countryside that are rarely visited. You will have a chance to trek through dense forests, see some of Phongsaly’s surrounds, meet people in minority groups. It is said that treks in this area is usually hard and long but it is really stimulating and worth the effort. The official Provincial Tourism Office will provide helpful information about trekking trips lasting from one day to some days. These arranged journeys include guides, visits and overnight stays in villages of traditional ethnic hill tribes such as Phou Noy, Akha, Lao Seng, Lue and Ho.

Climbing to Mount Phu Fa

For those who loves adventure, then conquering the Mount Phu Fa will be the best things to do in Phongsaly. Travelers have to walk across 400 stone stairs to reach the peak of the Mount Phu Fa. At the tophill, visitors will have a chance to view the whole Phongsaly town at height of 1,625 metres. It is very easy to take a picturesque photo of the peace town and surrounding countryside. Watching spectacular sunrise or sunset from the summit of the hill is also one of the reasons urging visitors to move up to the mountain. In addition, travelers will take a sightseeing to a splendid That Phou Xay stupa and an outstanding Buddha statue.

Visiting museum of tribes

This museum gives you a chance to deepen your understanding of the ethnic peoples of Phongsaly province. It contains a wealth of cultural information on animism and customs, with photos and historical background, as well as displays of the vividly coloured costumes you likely see on your travels. If the door is locked, ask for the key from the post office across the road.

Read more: 5 activities to do in Vang Vieng, Laos

✦ Cuisine in Phongsaly

To anywhere, the cuisine is a favorite part for all visitors and Phongsaly also has no exception. Phongsaly offers a variety of delicious and exotic cuisines that consists of wild forest ingredients like fragrant herbs, bamboo and rattan shoots.

After the meal, let try a shot of strong wine, a special kind with the green color absorbed from the freshly picked raspberry leaves during the final stage of the distillation process.

Another cuisine is Chinese-style green tea of Phongsaly, which received worldwide recognition for high quality and superb taste. Tea leaves are picked from the 400-year-old tea trees with 6m in height and 30cm in diameter. These tee trees are grown and taken care carefully by Phounoy minority women, no fertilizers and chemicals. After that, the precious tea leaves are compressed in bamboo cylinders and kept in cigar-shaped tubes. Phongsaly people drink a daily cup of tea to keep the body in health, reduce fat and have a clear mind.

Source Internet

Harajuku, the pop culture and fashion district in Tokyo

Harajuku attracts many visitors with its Japanese pop culture and beautiful nature spots. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.

Takeshita Dori

The symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of many of Japan's fashion trends, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is a narrow, roughly 400-meter long street lined by shops, boutiques, cafes and fast food outlets targeting Tokyo's teenagers. Because of the street's popularity, it becomes extremely busy and crowded on the weekends. Interesting shops and restaurants can also be found along some of the side streets.

Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji was a popular emperor who reigned from 1867 to 1912. The majority of the shrine grounds are composed of a beautiful, dense forest that can be explored on walking paths.

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park) is one of Tokyo's largest and most pleasant city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities. It is located next to Meiji Shrine. With an area of 54.1 hectares, you can enjoy the natural beauty of all four seasons on the vast park grounds. Visitors can spend their time watching the flowers, having picnics, playing music and enjoying sports in the park. 

Omotesando Hills

Omotesando Hills, five minutes walk from Meiji Jingumae Station, is a shopping mall with a collection of Japanese brand boutiques. Within the facility, there are more than one hundred shops that handle unique and high-quality merchandise. The main building, with three sublevels and three floors above ground, has a central open air space with a unique design. It is surrounded by a spiraling slope. Feel free to come to Omotesando Hills to discover the newest urban Japanese fashion.

Ota Memorial Museum of Art

This art museum is specifically focused on ukiyo-e. Each month the museum selects artwork based on a theme and displays around 14,000 pieces. This includes work by representative ukiyo-e artists such as Utamaro Kitagawa, Hokusai Katsushika, and Hiroshige Utagawa. At the museum's souvenir shop you can buy tenugui hand towels printed with ukiyo-e art, as well as postcards. Both make great souvenirs. You can see various new pieces each time you visit so every visit will be a delight.

See more: Street food in Tokyo, dishes that you should try once

Nezu Museum

At the Nezu Museum, you are able to appreciate Japanese and Western artwork. Buddhist carvings that have become Important Cultural Properties, Japanese paintings designated as national treasures and various other highly acclaimed art pieces are on display here. The collection belongs to industrialist and tea ceremony master Kaichiro Nezu. Nezu Museum’s other appealing point is its Japanese garden. Within the vast garden, there is a teahouse comprised of four buildings. After enjoying at the artwork, we recommend taking a stroll through the garden.

Oriental Bazaar

This is one of Tokyo's largest souvenir shops, very popular among foreign travelers in search of typical Japanese souvenirs, such as kimono, tableware, lamps, dolls, furniture and samurai related goods. The shop spans three floors and has a red and green facade that mimics traditional Japanese architecture. Travelers who pass by the storefront are sure to notice the building. Moreover, a thing that you need to notice that it is closed on Thursdays.

Source Internet